Hoyer: Republicans Wasting Taxpayer Money Defending DOMA

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the Committee on House Administration issued a report detailing the nearly $1.5 million in taxpayer-funded legal bills accumulated over the past 15 months to pay an outside law firm to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):

"Even as Speaker Boehner and House Republicans have ignored action on critical issues like comprehensive jobs legislation, they have wasted time and taxpayer money defending the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. Despite losing multiple court cases, Speaker Boehner continues to insist on racking up even more taxpayer-funded legal bills, even as Republicans claim to be concerned about the deficit.

"I believe DOMA is unconstitutional and violates the founding principle of this nation that there should be equality for all. As long as Republicans keep wasting taxpayer money defending DOMA, they are denying some families the federal rights and benefits available to others. That's not what we should stand for as a nation.

"I hope Republicans will drop their defense of DOMA so that we can ensure all Americans are treated equally."